Building slab



Pl BETZLER Dec. 1, 1931.

BUILDING SLAB Filed NOV. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnuenlor: Bu/Belzler .92! his @Ittorneg WM Dec. 1, 1931. p BETZLER 1,834,892

BUILDING SLAB Filed Nov. 6, 1930' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 noenl'or;

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE PAUL IBE'IZLIEB, OI JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK BUILDING SLAB Application filed November 6, 1930. Serial No. 493,748.

This invention relates to building materials, and more particularly refers to improvements in building units of the interlocking type made in molded form out of originally plastic materials.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a building unit of a novel and improved design comprising a relatively thin web body and two ribs or flanges inwardly extending therefrom, said body and flanges being adapted to interlock with the bodies and flanges of adjoining units so as to form therewith a structure comprising a relatively thin web body and a plurality of beams or column members as the case may be.

Another object is to provide a building unit or slab of the character specified, made of preferably reinforced cementitious material, said unit being cast with two ribs both of which extend for the entire depth of the beam or column to be formed thereby, thus permitting the insertion of more than one series of binding portions connecting adj oining units together.

A further object is to provide a building unit or slab of the character specified, readily lending itself to be used as a foundation onto which lathing, or building boards or other similar materials may be easily secured.

A still further objectis to provide a construction composed of a plurallt of elements or units preferably formed of remforced concrete or other cementitious material, said units being interlocking with one another and being held together to form a complete structure by means of suitable reinforcing and binding elements cooperating therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1, is a view in perspective of a building unit or slab embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary'view in perspective partly sectioned of a corner of a building in which building slabs of the type shown in Fig. 1 are employed for the construction 50 of its walls;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional .view thereof;

a Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of one of the walls of said building;

Fig. 5 is a partial view in perspective of a floor formed of a plurality of building units 65 of the same type;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the manner of building walls of adjoining stories; and Fig. 7 is a cross section in an enlarged scale of the corner unit shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

In a patent entitled, Interlocking unit constructions, issued to me May 6, 1930, #1,757,- 763, I have described a building unit or slab of a special construction making it possible to reduce the cost of labor in the construction of buildings as wellas the weight of the various structures without impairing their stability or strength.

The building slab or unit described and claimed in said patent, comprises a web body having one of its longitudinal edges inwardly bent at an angle to the surface of said body to form a rib integral therewith and having its other longitudinal edge bent inwardly, laterally and upwardly to form a hook sectioned beam or column member, adapted to receive and to interlock with the rib member of an adjoining unit.

Although I have found said building slab R0 or unit to be entirely satisfactory 1n use, 1 have also found in practice that the same requires a rather objectionable amount of care in handling, which is necessar in order to prevent excessive breakages. y experience has also been in this respect that breakages are likely to occur when the slabs are extracted from the mould, these breakages being mainly due to the difliculties engendered by the hook shaped section of the beam memher. The resulting structure is likely to be somewhat weak, because the entire hook sectioned beam overhangs from the web body to which it is attached along a single line of attachment, said beam being hollow and having two bends besides the bend along the line of attachment to the web body.

I have therefore sought to improve the design of the building slab or unit b making a more solid and rigid structure, w ile retaining all the advantages possessed by the slab or unit forming the subject of my previous patother rib being offset outwardly of the. ad-

joining longitudinal edge so as to form therewith a recess adaptedto receive and to interlock with the projecting longitudinal ed e of/an ad'oining slab or unit. y virtue 0 its improved design and con-- struction, the resulting slab which is of an extremely light weight makes it possible to build walls or floors of-great strength with the expenditure of a comparatively limited amount of labor.

At the same time, the design of the slab is such that the resulting structure is very strong and rigid, easy to mould and adapted to stand a great deal of abuse in handling.

Referring to vFig. 1, it will be observed that my improved slab or unit com rises a web body 10 having a rib 11 exten ing inwardly therefrom, in proximitof but spaced from one of its longitudinal e ges 12, so that the outer surface 13 of said rib defines with said web body a longitudinal tongue 14 along said longitudinal edge 12, extending substantially at right angles to said surface 13.

Said rib is furthermore formed with a longitudinal beaded projection or tenon 15, extending outwardly of surface 13 about midway of its width. The inner surface 16 of rib 11 is preferably made somewhat at a slant so as to cause said rib to have a tapering section wider at the base than at its outer edge. Said slab or unit is also formed with another rib v17, extending along its other longitudinal edge 18, the outer surface 19 of said rib being outwardly spaced from said edge 18, a distance substantlally correspond ing to the distance of opposite edge 12 from surface 13, forming a longitudinal recess 20 adapted to register and to interlock with the tongue of an adjoining unit, forming a joint therewith.

Said external surface 19 is also formed with a longitudinal channelled recess 21 adapted to register'and to interlock with the beaded projection 15 of an adjoining unit forming therewith a tenoned male and female joint.

The inner surface 22 of rib 17 is also preferably made at a slant so as to produce a ta-.

pering section wider at the base than along its outer edge. Due to the inclination of surfaces 16, 22, the resulting structure can be easily extracted from the mould after hardening as will be understood and the percent-' age of breakages occurring during the mouldingprocess is therefore reduced to a minimum.

locking ribs will, together, form a beam or column member having a section tapering down towards its outer edge.

A wall can thus be built-as shown in Fig. 3 comprising-a plurality of interlocking slabs or units 23, 24'; etc., the outer surfaces of their web bodies 23 24', etc., forming a continuous surlflace which is the outer surface of the wa Horizontal binding bars 25, 26, can be inserted as the work progresses alongside the inner surface of the wall and in proximit of the outer edges of the beams thus forme respectively, through perforations 27, 28, 27, 28, provided throu h ribs 11, 17 in proximity of one of the ends 0 the slabs or unlts.

Another binding bar such as 29 can be similarly inserted at the other end of the slabs or units through perforations 30, 30', also provided through said ribs. Interlocking slabs or units of the type just described can be made of an suitable plastic material or composition w ich may be selected according to the use for which the slabs or units are intended.

For the construction of outer and main walls, I prefer to make-the slab of reinforced concrete as shown in the drawings and in this case, each slab or unitis provided with reinforcing members which may be suitably placed, such as longitudinal bars 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, etc., connected b transversal wire or screen members 36. penings 27, 28, 30, 27", 28, 30 can be precast in the slabs as will be understood.

When the slabs are placed one against the other along their longitudinal side surfaces, mortar or cement is inserted therebetween, so as to form a strong and positively water proof binding between adjoining units. The slabs are preferably made sufliciently long to ex-, tend from floor to floor. The foundation wall 37, shown in Fig. 2 preferably has its upper built and binding bars 29 have been placed in position as shown in Fig. 2, a suitable framework is placed in position so as to cast horizontal beam members running between and also above adjoining column members at the upper end of the slabs. Said horizontal beam members, one of which is shown at 39 in Figs. 2 and 6 are also formed with an upper longitudinal groove 40, within which will be placed the lower ends of the slabs 41 forming the wall of the next story.

A corner formed by two walls constructed in the manner described, is preferably completed by means of a special slab or unit such as shown at 42, in Figs. 2 and 3. The two end slabs or units 43, 44 of the two walls are directed at right angles to each other, and the corner unit 42 is inserted therebetween, so as to interlock therewith.

Slabs or units 43, 44 are preferably arranged with their recessed longitudinal surfaces adjoining and interlocking with the corner unit, so that a corner unit of symmetrical construction can be used.

The corner slab or unit 42 comprises two Web sections 45, 46 at right angles to each other, and two rib sections 47, 48 inwardly projecting respectively from said two web sections, said two rib sections having their outer surfaces directed at right angles to each other, and at right angles to the outer surfaces of their corresponding web sections. Furthermore, the outer surface of each rib section is spaced from the adjoining longitudinal edge 49, 50 of its respective web section, so as to define a longitudinal tongue 51, 52 at the outer side of each web section, said tongue forming with its respective web section a shoulder adapted to nest and to interlock with the longitudinal recess 20 of the adjoining slabs or units.

Said outer surfaces of the rib sections are also formed with a beaded projection or tenon 53, 54 adapted to register and interlock with the longitudinal groove 21 of the adjoining slab. The inner surfaces 55, 56 of the rib sections are also in this case preferably made at a slant so as to produce a tapering structure for each rib section and so as to form with each other and with the inner surfaces of the web sections a chamber 57, which is preferably filled with concrete as the buildinn progresses as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The resulting structure is therefore a solid corner column which is preferably reinforced all through by vertical reinforcing members 58.

When the slabs are made of reinforced concrete or other cementitious material, the edge surfaces of the ribs or rib sections are preferably provided with means such as furring strips 59 adapted to form a foundation onto which lathing, or composition boards or like materials can be easily handled as shown at 60. The slab is preferably built in unit form with the furring strip which may be anchored in the concrete in any suitable manner.

It is also possible, of course, when pouring the concrete to form the upper wall beam 61 shown in Fig. 4 to insert anchoring boards 62 which will project upwardly therefrom, providing means for securing a wooden strip 62, 63 onto which the roof rafters 64 can be secured in any suitable manner.

4 The building units or slabs constructed according to my invention can also be used for building floors as shown in Fig. 5 where 65 designates a floor composed of a plurality of interlocking units 66, 67, 68, etc., horizontally arranged, the web portions of said slabs or units forming the floor foundation proper and the interlocking ribs forming the beams.

In the construction of floors, the end slab 66, is preferably made with a flat longitudinal side surface as shown at 69 in Fig. 5, so as to abut directly against the adjoining wall 70 without leaving any unnecessary clearance therebetween.

The beams formed by the rib sections are preferably provided with furring strips 71, onto which lathing or composition boards 72 can be attached. The ribs need not necessarily be directed at 90 to the surface of the web body although'it is preferable that their outer surfaces interlocking with the outer surfaces of the ribs of adjoining slabs or units, be at right angles to said surface as shown.

The invention may be modified in its various details without departing from the inventive idea; the drawings will therefore be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

. 1. A building unit of the character specified, comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members provided with a longitudinally extending male tenon member projecting from its outer side surface and the other rib member being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to register and interlock with the male tenon member of another similar unit when placed side by side therewith, with its web body in alignment with the web body of said building unit.

2. A building unit of the character specified, comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being ofl'set outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of another similar unit when placed side by side therewith, with itsweb body in alignment with the web body of said building unit.

3. A building unit of the character specitied, comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being oflt'set outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of another similar unit when placed side by side therewith with its web body in alignment with the web body of said building unit, the external side surface of one. of said rib members being provided with a longitudinally extending male tenon member projecting from its outer side surface, the external side surface of the other side member being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to register and interlock with the male tenon member of sail other unit.

4. A building unit of the character specified, comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of another similar unit when placed side by side therewith with the web body in alignment with the web body of said building unit, the inner side surfaces of said rib members being at a slant so as to cause said rib members to have a tapering section wider at the base than at the top.

5. A building unit of the character specified, comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of another similar unit when Elaced side by side therewith with its web ody in alignment with the web body of said buildin unit, the inner side surfaces of said rib inem rs being at a slant so as to cause said'rib members to have a tapering section wider at the base than at the top, said rib membersbeing' provided member projecting from its outer side surface, the external side surface of theother side member being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to register and interlock with the male tenon member of said other unit.

6. A building unit of the character specified, comprising a web body having a rilr member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximlty of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members being provided with a longitudinally extending male tenon member projecting from its outer side surface and the other rib member being provided with a longitudinally ex-v tending groove adapted to register and inter lock with the male tenon member of an other similar unit when placed side by sid therewith with its web body in alignment -with the web body of said building unit,

said rib members being provided with aligned transversal openings permitting the insertion of binding bars therethrough.

7. A, building unit of the character specified, comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of another similar unit when placed side-by side therewith with its web body in alignment with the web body of said building unit, the external side surface of one of said rib members being provided with a longitudinally extending male tenon member projecting from its outer side surface, the external side surface of the other side member being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to register and interlock with the male tenon member of said other unit, said rib members being provided with aligned transversal openings permitting the insertion of binding bars therethrough. c

8. A building unit of the character specified, comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of 'with a longitudinallyextending male tenon its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of. the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of another similar unit whenplaced side by side therewith with. its web body in alignment with the web body of said building unit, the inner side surfaces of said rib members being at a slant so as to cause said rib members to have a tapering section wider at the base than at the top, said rib members being provided with a longitudinally extending male tenon member projecting from its outer side surface,-the external side surface of the. other side member being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to register and interlock with the male tenon member of said other unit, said rib members being provided with aligned transversal openings permlttlng the insertion of binding bars therethrough.

9. A construction of the character described, comprising a plurality of units, each unit comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of 1ts longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface dlrected at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of an adjoining unit set with its web body in alignment with the web body of said buildlng unit, the external side surface of one of said rib members being provided with a longitudinally extending male tenon member projecting from its outer side surface, the external side surface of the other side member being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to register and interlock with the male tenon member of an adjoining unit, and binding bars running through said rib members, along a direction parallel to the outer surface formed by the web bodies of said unit.

10. A construction of the character described, comprising a plurality of units, each unit comprising a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoinin ed 0 thereof to form with said edge a longitudmal side tongue, the other rib member havin its outer side surface directed at right ang es to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudlnal side recess adapted to register and interlock with the tongue of an adjoining unit with its web body in alignment with the web body of said building unit, the external side surface of one of said rib members being provided with a longitudinally extending male tenon member projecting from its outer side surface, the external side surface of the other side member being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to register and interlock with the male tenon member of an adjoinin unit, the inner side surfaces of said rib mem ers being at a slant so as to cause said rib members to have a tapering section wider at the base than at the top, and binding bars running through sald rib members, along a direction parallel to the outer surface formed by the web bodies of said unit.

1 1. In a construction of the character described, a corner comprising two units arranged at right angles to each other, each unit including a web body having a rib member lnwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and 1n close proximity of its inner longitudinal edge, the outer side surface of said rib member being directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of said edge to form therewith a longitudinal side recess, and a corner locking member comprising a web body portion havng a rlght angled section, and a rib member nwardl projecting therefrom in close proxlmity 0 each longitudinal edge thereof, the outer side surface of each rib member being lnwardly spaced from the adjoining edge, to form a longitudinal edge tongue registering and interlocking with the longitudinal recess of the adjoining unit.

12. In a construction of the character described, a corner comprising two units arranged at right angles to each other, each unit ncluding a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and 1n close proximity of its inner longitudlnal edge, the outer side surface of said rib member being directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being offset outwardly of said edge to form therewith a longitudinal side recess, said outer side surface being provided with a longitudinally extending groove, and a corner locking member comprising a web body portlon having a right angled section, and a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom in close proximity of each longitudinal edge thereof. the outer side surface of each rib member being inwardly spaced from the ad- I joining edge, to form a longitudinal ed tongue registering and interlocking with t e longitudinal races of the adj oininglunit, said outer surface being provided wit a longitudinally extending male tenon member registering and interlocking with the long1tud1-' nal groove of the outer S1d6 surface of the rib member of the adjoining unit.

13. In a construction of the character described, a corner comprising two un ts arranged at right angles to each other, each unitincluding a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of its inner longitudinal edge, the outer side surface of said rib member being directed at r ht angles to the surface of said web body an being olfset outwardly of said edge to form therewith a longitudinal side recess, a. corner locking member comprising a web bod portion having a right angled section, an a rib member inwardl project-in therefrom in close .prox' imity 0 each longitudinal edge thereof, the outer side surface of each rib member'being inwardl spaced from the adjoining'edge, to

form a ongitudinal edge tongue registering and interlockin with the lon 'tu inal recess'of the adjoining unit, and inding bars running through the adjoining rib members of said units and corner member.

14. In a construction of the character described, a corner comprising two units arranged at right angles to each other, each unit including a web body having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in 0 imity of each longitudinal edge thereof, the

outer side surface of each rib member being lnwardlv spaced from the adjoinin-gedge, to form a longitudinal edge tongue registering and'mterlocking with the longitudinal recem of the adjoining unit, binding bars running through the adjoining rib'members of ose proximity of its inner longitudinal edge, the outer side surface of said rib web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining ed 0 thereof to form with said ed e a lo'ngitu inal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface diface of each rib member being inwardly spaced from the adjoining edge, to form a longitudinal edge ton ue registering and interlocking with the ongitudinal recess of the adjoining unit. 7 y

16. In a construction of the character described, two walls at rightangles to each other, each wall comprising a lurality of units, each unit including a web dy having a rib member inwardly projecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its. longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and spaced inwardly of the adjoining edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side tongue, the other rib member having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said web body and being ofl'set outwardly of the edge thereof to form with said edge a longitudinal side recess registering and interlocking with the tongue of an adjoining unit, a corner locking member, comprising a Web body portion having a right angled section, and a rib. member inwardly projecting therefrom in close proximity of each longitudinal edge thereof, the outer side surface 'of each rib member being inwardly spaced from the adjoining edge, to form a longitudinal edge tongue registering and interlocking with the longitudinal recess of the adsaid units and corner member, and a body of cementitious material filling the chamber formed by the web body portion of said corner locking member and the two rib members inwardly projecting therefrom.

15. In a construction of the character described, two walls atv right angles to each other, each wall comprising a plurality of units, each unit including a web body having a rib member inwardly pro ecting therefrom parallel to and in close proximity of each of its longitudinal edges, one of said rib members having its outer side surface directed at right angles to the surface of said 

